Market Development Director, Canada

About Vive

Vive is a crop protection technology company focused on making synthetic and biological active ingredients better using our patented Allosperse® nano-polymer delivery technology. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mississauga, ON, we are fully commercial with established distribution across the US, and launched our first product in Canada in 2023.

We’ve received several awards for innovation and ranked in the top half of companies in Deloitte’s 2021 North American Technology Fast 500. With 95+ US and Global patents, and a goal of having 12,500 growers around the world using Vive’s products and technologies in the next 10 years, we’re looking for passionate, growth-minded individuals to join us on our journey to achieving this goal!

At Vive, our core values (G-CROP) are the foundation of everything we do and are a guiding force for all the exciting and unique experiences you’ll have when working with us. 

• We are GROWER-focused

• We succeed through COLLECTIVE genius

• We are passionate about building something REAL

• We are all confident and adaptive OWNERS

• We are PRECISE, data-driven, and science-based

If you’re looking to build something real with a team of smart, confident, and adaptive owners (and like to have LOTS of fun along the way), keep reading to learn more about this position and the role you will play in helping us reach our goals!

Mission

This is a role with the key mission to lead Vive’s Canadian strategy, aiming first at building a top-10 crop protection company in Canada and eventually a top-5 market leader. As Vive’s Canadian business expands, you will own Vive’s P&L in Canada, key customer relationships, and Vive’s Canadian product pipeline.

You will deliver on this mission by:  

1. Bringing a deep understanding of the Canadian market and grower pain points and leveraging that understanding toward the development of future Vive products

2. Creating market demand through strategic product development and positioning that succinctly addresses identified grower needs

3. Implementing standardized, scalable approaches to crop and product brand planning in Canada

4. Building deep relationships with existing distribution in Canada and key grower and influencer groups

5. Keeping a long-term view on the evolution of the Canadian biologicals market, ensuring we are optimizing our outreach, partnership, and product development activities to ensure success (supporting product management and business development)

6. Exhibiting strong analytical and problem-solving skills despite imperfect information

7. Being a resourceful, creative, and self-driven individual who is passionate about building something real in support of the organization’s continued business success

Interacts with:

• Internally – Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Executive Leadership

• Externally – Growers, retailers, crop consultants, and other centers of influence; and at times other 3rd Party Product Development Partners

Accountability - in your first 12 months, you will:

• Drive near-term market success in Canada - Capitalize on Vive’s recent product launch and established distribution in Canada to accomplish 2025 growth in support of Vive’s business goals.

• Complete a Canadian market assessment to lead product pipeline development - Execute Canadian market assessment and lead efforts to identify priority product opportunities, delivering grower value through Vive’s Precision Chemistry solutions.

• Develop our Canadian strategy - Develop and begin execution on a complete 5-year strategy in Canada. This will include regulatory, GTM, product pipeline, and forecasts, aiming at being a top-10 crop protection company in Canada within 5 years.

• Support other product management initiatives as needed - With rest of marketing team, support product management initiatives in the United States and globally on an as-needed basis, with first priority being Canadian market development

Specific Duties & Responsibilities 

• Leads Canadian market strategy development and execution

• Delivers branded Vive products into Canada with measurable value and market-relevant differentiation

  • Works with US product management to assess and test opportunities for new products in Canada, and ensure market opportunities are developed for relevant products.
  • Collaborates with Sales and Product Development to identify and define new solutions specifically for the Canadian market, from concept to creation, from field testing to product launch and market adoption
  • Develops market-relevant proof points to convey each product’s brand story
  • Ensures Vive product pipeline efforts are focused on addressing grower pain points and unmet market needs
  • Partners with Sales to align and educate distribution channel partners delivering product to the market

• Owns Canadian P&L; manages product margins and the overall financial performance in Canada

  • Delivers monthly and annual revenue forecasts
  • Manages COGs and product pricing

• Works with Vive’s Technology, Marketing, and Sales teams to take US-focused initiatives and adapt them for the Canadian market; and vice-versa

• Lead’s Vive relationship with key Canadian commercial influencers, including distributors, key retailers, and key growers

• Vive’s key contact with CropLife Canada

Skills & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, agronomy or an agricultural sales or marketing related field. Other educational backgrounds considered with relevant experience.

• Experience: 8-10+ years experience in Canadian agriculture, with 5 years of crop protection product / business management experience required.

• 2+ years experience focused in biological or bio-enabled products an asset but not required

• Strong communication skills, ability to distill down complex messaging

• Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator; works across Sales, Marketing, Development, Supply Chain and Regulatory to align product development, production, and distribution efforts

• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and independent problem-solving skills

• Challenges mediocrity, ensures Vive products are best in class

• Strong analytical skills – ability to assess the big picture as well as nuance the details

• Detailed and data-driven approach to decision-making

• Comfortable managing complex projects and initiatives

• Passion for accuracy and detail, including written and oral communications

• Independent, can-do attitude, self-starter

Requirement

• Travel up to 25% if near Mississauga; if further remote, may be up to 35%.
• Valid passport. Must have the ability to travel across US & Canada.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.